Question 1

What is the belief that the behaviours and customs of any culture must be viewed and analyzed by the culture's own standards?

Accepted Answer

Cultural relativism is the belief that the behaviours and customs of any culture must be viewed and analyzed by the culture's own standards. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting cultural differences and not judging other cultures based on our own cultural standards (ethnocentrism).

Question 2

Terry's focus on her schooling over other activities is best understood as a reflection of what?

Accepted Answer

Terry's focus on her schooling can be seen as an attempt to acquire cultural capital, which refers to the knowledge, skills, and experiences that are valued in a particular society. By prioritizing her education, Terry is investing in herself and her future success, which can lead to higher social status and opportunities for advancement. This aligns with the concept of cultural capital as described by French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu.

Question 3

What do functionalists argue about popular culture?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What do functionalists argue about popular culture?
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Question 4

Which of the following statements reflects the relationship between high culture and popular culture?

Accepted Answer

High culture, such as classical music or literature, is often seen as requiring specialized knowledge or training to fully appreciate and understand. Popular culture, on the other hand, is often more accessible and doesn't require the same level of background knowledge or education.

Question 5

Which of the following statement best defines culture?

Accepted Answer

Culture refers to a set of ideas, behaviors, and material possessions that are shared by a specific group of people. This includes language, traditions, beliefs, art, cuisine, and social interactions. Culture can vary from one group to another, and it is often passed down from generation to generation through socialization and education. While culture can be influenced by geography and history, it is not limited to a specific geographic territory or interdependent relationship between nations.

Question 6

A team song or camp chant taught to children are forms of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Team songs or camp chants taught to children are forms of positive ethnocentrism as they promote pride and unity within a group, fostering a sense of belonging and shared identity.

Question 7

Activities,products,and services that are assumed to appeal primarily to members of the middle and working classes are referred to as what kind of culture?

Accepted Answer

The term "popular culture" is often used to describe activities, products, and services that are targeted towards and consumed by the masses, particularly those in the middle and working classes. This includes things like music, movies, television shows, fashion, and other forms of entertainment that are widely enjoyed by a large segment of society. Nonmaterial culture refers to ideas, beliefs, values, and other intangible aspects of culture, while high culture is typically associated with more elite or sophisticated forms of art, literature, and other cultural products. Global culture refers to the increasing interconnectivity and homogenization of culture across different countries and regions.

Question 8

According to K.S.Jewell,popular cultural images are often linked to negative stereotypes,particularly of Black women.Which is an example?

Accepted Answer

Aunt Jemima Pancake advertisements have often been criticized for perpetuating negative stereotypes of Black women, portraying them as servant-like figures who exist only to serve white families. The character of Aunt Jemima has also been linked to racism and discrimination.

Question 9

Using a symbolic interactionist perspective,what does Simmel state about money?

Accepted Answer

Simmel argues that people create money as a means of exchange but then it acquires a social meaning that extends beyond the economic function. In other words, money is not just a tool for economic calculations, but it is also a symbol that carries social meaning and influences our interactions with others. Money can affect our perceptions of worth and social status, as well as shape our relationships and interactions with others.

Question 10

Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu defines high culture as a device used by the dominant class to exclude the subordinate classes.What is this theory?

Accepted Answer

Bourdieu's theory is known as cultural capital, which refers to the cultural knowledge, skills, and tastes that are valued by the dominant class and used to maintain their power and privilege. According to Bourdieu, those who possess cultural capital have an advantage in society, as their knowledge and tastes are seen as more legitimate and worthy than those of the subordinate classes. The dominant class uses high culture as a way to exclude and marginalize those who do not possess cultural capital.

Question 11

If you followed social theorist Pierre Bourdieu's cultural capital theory,what would you argue about high culture?

Accepted Answer

According to Bourdieu's cultural capital theory, high culture is a device used by the dominant class (i.e., the elites) to exclude the subordinate class (i.e., the working class and the poor) from cultural participation and to reinforce their position of power. Thus, high culture serves as a form of symbolic violence that perpetuates the unequal distribution of cultural capital and reproduces social inequality. Bourdieu argues that cultural capital, which includes knowledge, skills, and cultural tastes, is not evenly distributed across society but is instead concentrated in the hands of the dominant class. Therefore, the subordinate class is often marginalized and excluded from high culture, which is used to maintain their subordination.

Question 12

Monica is obsessed with Facebook.What sociological concept defines Monica's interactions on social networking sites?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Monica is obsessed with Facebook.What sociological concept...

Question 13

Taking school children to the symphony exposes them to what kind of culture?

Accepted Answer

Taking school children to the symphony exposes them to high culture.

Question 14

Being on your favourite social networking site with your friends is participating in what kind of culture?

Accepted Answer

Participating in social media with friends is an example of popular culture, which refers to cultural activities and products that are accepted and consumed by a large audience, often driven by commercial interests.

Question 15

Suppose you were a conflict theorist.Which of the following statements would you agree with?

Accepted Answer

Conflict theorists believe that popular culture is a tool used by powerful entities to maintain control and perpetuate inequality, aligning with the idea that it is created by powerful corporations.

Question 16

What does anthropologist Marvin Harris use to explain why cattle,which are viewed as sacred,are not killed and eaten in India,where widespread hunger and malnutrition exist?

Accepted Answer

Marvin Harris uses the concept of cultural relativism to explain why cattle, which are viewed as sacred, are not killed and eaten in India despite widespread hunger and malnutrition. Cultural relativism is the idea that cultural practices and beliefs should be understood from the perspective of the culture in which they occur and not judged by the standards of another culture. In this case, Harris explains that for Hindus in India, the cultural and religious significance of cows overrides the need for their meat as a source of nutrition.

Question 17

Rose's interest in both piercings and the opera demonstrates which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Rose's interest in both piercings and the opera suggest that forms of popular culture and high culture are not mutually exclusive. This undermines the idea that they are separate and incompatible categories.

Question 18

Some Westerners assume that hunger and poverty in India is caused by cow worship,and would be eliminated if Indians would adapt our practices of slaughtering cattle.What would anthropologist Marvin Harris likely say about such a conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Marvin Harris would likely criticize this conclusion as being ethnocentric, as it assumes that Western practices are inherently superior and that Indian cultural practices are a hindrance to progress. He would argue that the causes of hunger and poverty in India are more complex and multifaceted, and cannot be solved simply by changing cultural practices related to cattle.

Question 19

Many people buy products at The Disney Store because they believe in the trustworthiness of the item.This belief has been promoted through marketing to create what sociologist Pierre Bourdieu calls?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many people buy products at The Disney...

Question 20

Which statement matches the perspective on culture with the correct theory?

Accepted Answer

The statement matches the perspective on culture with the postmodernist theory, which emphasizes that reality is constructed through language and cultural practices, and speaks of cultures, rather than culture as a singular entity.

Quiz 3: Culture